U.S. Men's National Team Matches at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup to be Televised on ESPN Networks

NewsMay 29, 2009

CHICAGO (May 28, 2009) – The U.S. Men’s National Team’s matches at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup will be broadcast on four different ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. ESPN and ESPN2 will televise all 16 matches of the tournament, which takes place June 14-28 in South Africa.

The United States has been drawn into a powerful Group B along with reigning world champions Italy, five-time World Cup winners Brazil, and reigning African Cup of Nations winners Egypt. The U.S. kicks off action against Italy on June 15 at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane/Pretoria, live at 2:25 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Three days later, the U.S. faces Brazil at 9:55 a.m. ET in the same venue. That match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com. The United States finishes group play on June 21 against Egypt at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg at 2:25 p.m. ET, live on ESPN2, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

ESPN will also televise the Group B clash between Italy and Brazil at 2:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 21, as well as the semifinals June 24-25, which will be shown simultaneously on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. The third place match and tournament final will be broadcast live on ESPN2, as well as ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

All Confederations Cup matches televised on ESPN and ESPN2 will be available in high definition, which will be offered as a simulcast of ESPN and ESPN2’s coverage. Additionally, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will feature three pre-game shows leading up to the USA’s match against Brazil, the game between Italy and Brazil on June 21 and the Confederations Cup final on June 28. All three pre-game shows begin at 2 p.m. ET.

The U.S. is playing in its fourth FIFA Confederations Cup tournament, having appeared most recently in the 2003 event in a group with Brazil, Turkey and Cameroon. The team reached the semifinals of the 1999 tournament, beating Germany and New Zealand in group play before losing to hosts Mexico in the semifinals. The matches will represent the USA’s second time playing on South African soil, the team having defeated South Africa 1-0 on Nov. 11, 2007, in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.